In response to backlash, a progressive activist has scrubbed the custom website he created just days earlier to expose fans of a new widely anticipated Harry Potter-themed video game to an online pressure campaign.
On Monday, a progressive U.K.-based web developer unveiled a website which like-minded gamers could use to find out whether certain channel owners on Twitch — the massively popular video game streaming platform — have played the game. Designed by Sam Gibbs, the website was titled, “Have They Streamed THAT Wizard Game?”
Gibbs and other social-justice activists had vowed to boycott the game over its affiliation with J. K. Rowling — the author behind the wildly popular book series that inspired the video game — who has spoken out in recent years against the more extreme demands of the transgender movement.
As of Wednesday, however, Gibbs’s website had been removed from the web.
While the website was still accessible, it allowed Twitch account holders to search for streamers to see if they played Hogwarts Legacy. For example, it would tell you that Canadian Twitch streamer xQc, who is ranked No. 3 in the world by Twitch Tracker, played Hogwarts Legacy on Monday for a virtual audience of about 100,000.
Thought the website is down now, Gibbs’s post announcing its unveiling still remains on Twitter, with 13.4 million views.
The cancellation campaigns have so far proven futile, as Hogwarts Legacy has been raking in loads of revenue in pre-sales ahead of its Friday release. Gibbs’ website prompted some Twitter users, who said they had no previous intention of doing so, to head out to buy the game.
“Thanks for the reminder! Totally forgot that I need to pick the game up this week!,” one user chided.
“This reminds me.. i have to buy the game.. thanks!,” another wrote.
“Lemme buy the game and stream it asap so I can get on the list! 😂,” another user joked.
One user commented that the targeting efforts are bound to backfire, noting that woke culture has gone too far.
“The reason the game is selling so well, is because people are tired of this crap. They were tired of you trying to control them,” the user said. “I’m personally not buying it, because I don’t agree with it. But, I’m not going to try to force other peoples will. Lead by example, not coercion.”